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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus TG-610 front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 Key Specs

Olympus TG-610
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 190g - 96 x 65 x 26mm
  • Released January 2011
Sony QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Introduced September 2014
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus TG-610 and Sony QX1, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Lens-style by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the TG-610 (14MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the TG-610 (1/2.3") and QX1 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The TG-610 was announced 4 years prior to the QX1 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus TG-610 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the TG-610 scores versus the QX1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus TG-610 over the Sony QX1

 TG-610 QX1 
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution920k0kSharper screen (+920k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Olympus TG-610

 QX1 TG-610 
IntroducedSeptember 2014January 2011More recent by 44 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus TG-610 and Sony QX1

 TG-610 QX1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus TG-610 provides outside dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sony QX1 has specifications of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") along with a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

See the Olympus TG-610 and Sony QX1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the TG-610 vs the QX1.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the TG-610 and QX1 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements only by checking out technical specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the TG-610 and QX1.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The TG-610 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony QX1 will provide more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older TG-610 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Portrait photography features
Sony QX1 Portrait photography features
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
66
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Street photography info
Sony QX1 Street photography info
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
69
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
has focus via touch
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others in class (216g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus TG-610
Sports photography with Sony QX1
40
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (210 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
56
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery life (440 shots)
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus TG-610
Travel photography with Sony QX1
64
weather sealing
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (210 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
71
better than average battery life (440 per charge)
has focus via touch
MP count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (216g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Landscape photography highlights
Sony QX1 Landscape photography highlights
43
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14MP)
weather sealing
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery power (210 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
64
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (440 per charge)
screen is small ( inch)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus TG-610 Vlogging info
Sony QX1 Vlogging info
30
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
32
touchscreen enabled
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no mic jack
heavier than others in class (216 grams)
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Olympus TG-610 vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus TG-610 and Sony QX1
 Olympus TG-610Sony Alpha QX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus TG-610 Sony Alpha QX1
Category Waterproof Lens-style
Released 2011-01-06 2014-09-03
Body design Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 1600 16000
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.6
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch -
Display resolution 920k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.20 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 190 gr (0.42 lbs) 216 gr (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 65 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 1.0") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 shots 440 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $223 $500